Tobago's rainforest is the oldest legally protected preserve in the Western Hemisphere. If Trinidad exudes a vibrant South American charm, Tobago embraces all things Caribbean: quiet beaches, crystal blue waters and mile upon mile of reefs made for snorkeling.

American Adventurer column: While short on the beaches you typically associate with the Caribbean, Trinidad has a rugged, Lost World-like interior that calls to mind the jungles of South America. Geographically, too, the island is situated closer to Venezuela than to its sister island, Tobago. The rugged mountains in Trinidad's Northern Range are a continuation of the Andes that dominate the mainland.

The American Adventurer column: Chile's Valle de la Luna, the legendary moon valley, is crowned on all sides by volcanic peaks that cascade as far as the eye can see. As the sun sets, they're painted in pinks and reds, and the valley becomes a kaleidoscope of new shapes and colors. If this quiet lunar landscape seemed eerie before dusk, it's downright alien now.

American Adventurer column: There's a popular misconception in American hiking circles that the only "real" mountains in the U.S. are found out west. I've been guilty of it myself, looking to the Sierras and the Rockies for adventure and ignoringhere in my column, anywaythe joys and challenges of the Northeast. That's an oversight I'll put behind me this month.

With its obsidian lava fields and steaming hot springs, moss-covered foothills and treeless valleys, Iceland has a magical quality to it, as if has been plucked from the imagination as a playground for the adventurous traveler. SmarterTravel.com's Josh Roberts takes you on a six-day, 80-mile hike through this Land of Fire and Ice.

Standing at the edge of the South Rim, elbow to elbow with dozens of other picture-snapping tourists, it can be hard to think of the Grand Canyon as a real adventure. But the good news is that finding your own private slice of the park is relatively easy. SmarterTravel.com offers inside tips to make the most of your visit.

SmarterTravel.com: For hikers, the 105-mile Tour du Mont Blanc is the ultimate summer adventure: a 10-day circular walk that starts and finishes in France and passes through both Italy and Switzerland along the way. Josh Roberts reports from the most popular long-distance hike in Europe.

Eight miles off the west coast of Ireland lies an island unlike any other. It's barely a footnote in most guidebooks. The spot is called Skellig Michael, an abandoned monastic settlement barely changed since its pinnacle in the 12th century.

Winter is when Vermont's active side emerges when its long rolling pastures become sledding hills, when hayrides become sleigh rides and when leaf peeping and antiques shopping give way to skiing, skating, snowshoeing and snowmobiling.